After dismal 2011, Smithfield can clinch a tie for Bay Rivers title

Marty O'Brien, mobrien@dailypress.com | 757-247-4963

The temptation must be great for Clark Harrell to say that he felt from the day he took the Smithfield High football coaching job in early April that he could turn the Packers into Bay Rivers District championship contenders immediately. He's not biting on that apple.

From Day 1 he was certain the Packers could be better than the 2011 group that went 1-9 while giving up 30 or more points in six losses. But, asked if he thought they would be 8-1 going into Thursday's game against Tabb (4-5) at Bailey Field, with a win clinching at least a share of the district title, and he answers "No!" without hesitation.

"I didn't think we could be this good in one year," he said. "I was concerned that we'd get whipped on the offensive line, but the lineman are improving every week.

"And I knew we'd have to be a lot better defensively. That's happened."

Boy has it. The Packers enter Thursday's Tabb game allowing only 11 points and 129 yards per contest. Only Poquoson's 2010 AA Division 3 state championship team has been more dominant in the district recently.

Harrell jokes that he wants to nominate all 11 for all-district. Choosing a realistic number so that the Packers earn the all-district representation they deserve won't be easy.

Defensive end Shatwon Johnson and Deshaun Faltz have often looked spectacular in the Packers' 4-3, as have linebackers Kyon Croker, Chuck Sharon and Nick Kennedy. But Harrell says that is in part because tackles Kahvorkian Walton and Demetric Lewis have done such a great job occupying blockers.

The secondary of Bruce Cypress, Trevon Batten, Marquis Childress and Jamarie Wrenn has been impenetrable, allowing about 45 yards passing per game. They are the fastest and most athletic unit on a defense that is lightning fast.

"Last year's defense was more about gap control," Harrell said. "We changed our defensive style to be more aggressive and blitzing, to take advantage of our speed and quickness."

The emergence of the offensive line of Walton, Lewis, Collin Todd, JaQuan Spratley and Jay Rice has been key to the Packers' balanced attack. In the 42-7 win over playoff-bound Warhill two weeks ago, the Packers netted 201 yards on the ground and 176 in the air.

"If you can block the other team's front well, you can get four or five yards on a run. If you can block the linebackers, you have a chance to break it to the second level."

While the Packers have scored 89 points the past two games, their 27 points per game average pales in comparison to Lafayette's 37. But the Packers present their share of headaches because so many athletic skill players are involved in the offense.

Quarterback Jermaal Wells, hampered for weeks by an ankle injury, appears healthy after passing for 176 yards against Warhill and running for 139 against New Kent. He's already run for more than 500 yards (while passing for 740), a number Najai Williams and Kyon Croker also should exceed.

Wells can count on speed in the slots with receivers Croker and Childress, while James Green and Marcell Curry add explosiveness and sometimes-spectacular playmaking abilities at wideout. No one singularly plays a starring role offensively or defensively, hardly an issue on a team basking in collective glory in the Smithfield community.

"Last year we couldn't wait for the season to be over," Spratley said. "This year, we've been hungry to prove we were a dominant team in the district and (Thursday) we know it's up to us."

Walton said, "It would mean a lot to get a district championship. This is a small town and everybody's had our backs in a good way."

Harrell added, "I'm very proud of and happy for our players. I was a high school football player and I know how hard it is to knock heads in August in the 95 degree heat.

"Nothing means more for a high school football player to look up and see that the stands are full, and that the community and school have rallied behind them."